The Spiral

The image of damage! Poor Texas. They were hit hard by storms and rain. Lots of rain.

Catastrophe hit with little warning, unless you consider two hours enough time to evacuate from a flood. Stories of rising flood levels were staggering. So is the extensive damage. But even more staggering, by today’s standards, are the stories of those who reached out to their neighbors to rescue, save, protect, feed, clothe and house those who needed help.

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Take another look at that spiral image, and put yourself inside. If you placed yourself in any of the outside corners going in, you may get stuck inside the center of your own vortex of problems, and never be of any good to anyone. Least of all, yourself! But, if you begin in the center of confusion starting at the place where you are weakest, and begin your trip outward to help others, the spiral becomes huge. All encompassing. There is no limit to what you can do, once you take the focus off your own problems.

God blessed Texas with some wonderful people, who reached out from their own trauma to help save and protect others who were stranded. Many left their own flooded homes in boats and on rafts to rescue others.

Others have taken strangers into their homes and though they are sharing what food they have in total darkness. Dry and safe.

Little Texas, performed a song that is so perfect for this trial. Goes like this:

“God Blessed Texas, With His own hand

Brought down angels from the promised land

Gave ’em a place where they could dance

If you want to see heaven, brother, here’s you chance

I’ve been sent to spread the message

God blessed Texas.”

Each catastrophe is different but the pain can always be lightened when you reach out to help others carry their loads. We will never forget those, also Texans, who reached out to us when we lost Ryan. And we look back extremely grateful for the time we spent visiting with the burn survivors and their families at various children’s burn hospitals on foreign soil. It’s a privilege to reach out of our own situation to help support and encourage other parents of burn survivors, through our foundation Ryanshines.com.

Remember The Spiral when you are faced with a dilemma greater than you can handle. Place yourself within the spiral. Is your focus on the quagmire of the inner circle – or do you start with your own chaos and head out to the edges to help others?